Endless Second (Cut The Cord)

The portrayal of rape and sexual assault onstage is always problematic, but the approach taken here is deftly sensitive and powerfully effective. Who speaks – who has the right to speak, the power to speak – is the central device, fundamental to the success of the play. In early scenes, such as the meet-cute and the playful blossoming of the relationship, the unnamed lovers describing and narrating one another’s actions reflects their romantic awkwardness and sexual tension. After the rape, however, things change. He speaks for her, taking ownership of her trauma but never acknowledging his own actions; her attention to the details of his body reflects her anxiety and uncertainty. Powerful, timely, and sensitive, ‘Endless Second’ is as excellent as it is important.